The Power of Doing Good or Evil

Q.1 What do you understand by your belief in the power of doing good or evil proceeding from Allah and Allah alone ?

Ans : I mean that Allah has given me the power of action (good or bad), but he has also given me reason and a code of life to choose between good and evil, and therefore, I am responsible for my actions. For example, Allah has given me the power of speaking. It is for me to use tongue for speaking the truth or abuse its power by speaking lies.

Q.2 How does Allah help you to do good acts ?

Ans : Allah helps us to do good acts by sending Messengers to guide us all along the right path, and Codes of Religion.

Q.3 What is a sin ?

Ans : Any action against the Commands of Allah is a sin.

Q.4 Who can forgive sins ?

Ans : Allah and Allah alone can forgive sins.

Q.5 What should you do, so that Allah may forgive your sins ?

Ans : In order that my sins be forgiven, I must pray to Allah with all my hearts and, atoning for all my evil deeds, resolve never to commit any such or other misdeeds again.

Q.6 Which articles of food and drink have been decreed unlawful for a Muslim ?

Ans : The articles of food and drink that have been decreed unlawful for a Muslim are :

1) All kinds of intoxicating wines, liquors and spirits.

2) Flesh of swine and all wild animals that employ claws or teeth for killing their victims, e.g tigers, leopards, elephants, wolves, etc. and all birds of prey as hawks, eagles, vultures, crows, etc.

3) Rodents, reptiles, worms etc.

4) Flesh of dead animals that are otherwise sanctioned as legitimate.

5) Flesh of animals and birds (sanctioned) that are not slaughtered or slayed in the prescribed manner.

6) Flesh of animals that are offered as sacrifice to idols.

Q.7 How should an animal or a bird whose flesh is sanctioned to be lawful for food be slaughtered or slayed ?

Ans : One should say “ Bismillahi Allahu-Akbar “at the time of slaughtering or slaying an animal or a bird whose flesh is sanctioned to be lawful for food, and pass the knife over its throat in such amanner that the main arteries are cut as under, but the spinal cord is left alone for a while till all the blood oozes out.

Q.8 Can you name some of the acts that are major sins and are liable for severe punishment ?

Ans : Yes, Some of the acts that are major sins and are liable for severe punishment are :-

 1) To believe in anyone as partner of Allah.

 2) To disbelieve in Allah or His Prophets or His Books, or to den by any of the Fundamental Principles of Islam.

 3) To lie.

 4) To commit adultery or sodomy.

 5) To rob or steal.

 6) To cheat or deceive anyone.

 7) To bear false witness.

 8) To bring false charge against anyone.

 9) To backbite.

10)To abuse anybody or injure anyone’s feelings.